The Best Water Fountains for Pets, Tried & Tested

While it might be more utilitarian-looking than others, the Rellaty pet fountain ended up being our fave. Nearly silent, it's the quietest of the dozen pet fountains that we tried and it's also the easiest water fountain to clean.

The stainless steel bowl fits nicely in the dishwasher. The top has the pump attached to the underside, so you should disassemble the pump first if you want to put the top piece in the dishwasher, otherwise you can rinse it all clean in your sink. The fountain is sold with a tiny brush to help clean the inside of the spout piece.

"I was really able to set it and forget it with this fountain. It doesn't get knocked over the way their little dishes did," said our tester with two cats and two kids. The fountain offers two spouts of flowing water and can hold more than three liters of water, so if you have multiple cats or a thirsty little dog, you should be good for days. The bummer is that there's no way to see the water level. If your animal drinks about the same amount each day, you'll soon get into a rhythm of knowing how much and how often to replenish.

With a generous six-foot-long cord, there are plenty of options for where to place the fountain. We also like that this comes with four filters to start you off. The brand recommends changing the filter every two to four weeks and the pre-filter sponge every four to six weeks to keep the water fresh. There's a replacement pack with eight filters and sponges so you'll probably end up with extra sponges since those get replaced less frequently.

Dogs drink more water than cats and this holds a full six liters of water for them, filtering it and sending it bubbling or running out the top.

It's made with dogs in mind, elevated almost a full seven inches so those taller pups don't have to bend down too far to get hydrated. (Though if there's a big cat in the house, it might try this out, too!) There is no way to see the water level, but the sound of the pump will grow louder when you need to add more water.

This fountain's BPA-free plastic parts can go in your dishwasher but many of the Amazon reviewers say that because this is just essentially two large pieces (top and bottom) they can easily hand-wash them in the sink once a week.

Zeus suggests replacing the filter monthly and sells a two-pack of replacement filters. Each filter ends up costing about $7, one of the more expensive that we saw. If your dog tends to make a mess with the water, note that the brand just launched a new fountain with splash-guard sides that we have not yet been able to test.

We assumed that, at this price, there would be many compromises to make regarding this cat fountain, but it's a solid choice.

It didn't make any mechanical noise in our tests, though, "I could hear the gentle water-splashing sound from the next room," one tester said. Yet because the water only falls a couple of inches from the cute flower in the center— with a total of six mini spouts — the noise level was still less than some other fountains we tested.

We appreciate that the Ciays includes three filters. The brand sells an 8-pack of replacement filters and suggests you change the filter every two weeks, which is more often than most fountains. There's only a few easy assembly steps to get the fountain up and running.

It holds enough water to keep one cat hydrated for days, and it's easy to see the water level through the window on the front. There are three color choices: blue (shown), gray and green. The five-inch height of the square bowl should work for toy dog breeds but the overall bowl size is too small for most dogs. Also, the flower piece is a little tough to clean; versions that cost a little more often come with a brush you can use to help clean small crevices.

This adorable, flower-adorned water fountain is a favorite of many pet families, garnering over 29K five-star reviews on Amazon.

Made of BPA-free plastic, the compact round design easily tucks into a cramped space, and the window on the front clearly indicates water level. "You can detach the yellow part of the flower from the white part so it's easy to clean them both, and this comes with a thin bristle brush to help with cleaning as well," our tester noted.

We found the noise level to be loud but not unpleasant. The water falls two inches from the top of the flower and then down another inch to the splashpad and then drops into the basin below, which might account for it being louder than others. Some online reviewers called this out as a plus, because cats are attuned to sound and many love to hear running water.

We appreciate that it holds a full three liters. It only comes with one filter to get you started, but the brand suggests you only need to swap it out monthly. If you use the filter the fountain comes with and also get a five-pack of replacement filters, you should be good for half a year.

The small bowl might be okay for tiny dog breeds but is best for cats. Keep in mind that the six-inch height from floor to bowl is probably too tall for a kitten. The fountain comes in green (shown) or blue. Note that the cord is only three feet long; if your available outlet is up high or further away, you may need an extension cord.

This ceramic water fountain looks more like home decor, so if you plan on placing it in a living room or office, it will blend in nicely, though you can expect to pay a bit more for it.

Water falls gently from both sides and the splash is audible from a room away. Fans of the Pagoda Pet Fountain praise the sound in online reviews; testers said they found the water-garden sound "soothing" and that it "provided ambiance."

One feature we especially like is that even if you lose electricity, there will still be plenty of water available in the wide-open basin. The main pieces, aside from the pump, are also dishwasher-safe and it's very easy to check the water level to determine if you need to replenish.

The brand suggests replacing the filter every two to four weeks and sells a 12-pack of replacement filters for only a little over $1 per filter, one of the best prices we saw. You should also replace the pre-filter foam every month or two; those are sold separately for closer to $3 a piece.

Looking for an extra-large bowl? Pioneer Pet's got you. Any size dog can drink from this ceramic fountain as well as multiple cats. If you've got a multi-pet household, this one fountain can be a watering hole for all of them.

The drawback of the large bowl is that debris like stray kibble and hair tends to settle at the bottom and not get pushed through the filter. That saves the filter, but this fountain needs to be cleaned at least once or twice a week. You have to take three pieces apart; two of them are dishwasher-safe or can be hand-washed. Don't submerge the pump — follow directions in the fountain's manual for cleaning that.

It is made of sturdy ceramic, which has upsides and downsides. At seven pounds, it's not easy for pets to push around. But picking it up to clean takes some arm strength. It's also a workout filling it up with a gallon of water again after each cleaning.

Turn hydration into a game for your dog by connecting this step-on water dispenser to an outdoor hose in your yard or on a patio. Basically, you are letting your dog call the shots; whenever they press a foot on the pedal, there's a squirt of water.

You will have to train your pup on how to use it, and set the water pressure to low or high depending on how big your dog is and how high you want the water to spurt upwards. But then offering them water outside is easy and in their control!

This will provide water straight from your garden hose so it's not carbon-filtered like other water fountains on this list. The hose hookup does have the very basic screen that catches large particles. It also comes with a two-way splitter so you can use this alongside a hose that's attached to your lawn sprinkler or available for watering your garden.

This is best for large dog breeds with some paw power and some smarts, such as Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds and the like. Beware: They might soak themselves, but they'll likely love it.